Can the Steelers decelerate the Payments’ top-ranked run sport with out Derrick Harmon?
The Steelers received’t have Derrick Harmon on Sunday after they tackle the Payments, James Cook dinner, and their top-ranked run sport. With 1,619 yards on the bottom, they’ve collected extra mileage by that mode of transportation than some other crew. And Pittsburgh is simply in the midst of the pack by way of run protection.
Cook dinner is only one of two operating backs with a 1,000-yard season, however the Steelers—with Derrick Harmon—managed to include the opposite. At the start of the month, they held Jonathan Taylor and the Colts in examine, largely by forcing turnovers and disrupting rhythm.
It is perhaps value noting that the Payments haven’t been elite with ball safety. They’ve turned the ball over 15 instances this season, rating twenty fourth within the NFL. The Steelers have the Fifteenth-ranked run protection, however have the second-most takeaways, although the Payments’ fumbles haven’t actually come from the run sport. Cook dinner, for instance, has solely fumbled twice out of their 12 whole.
And he’s averaging 5.4 yards on 199 carries with a 58-percent run-success fee. How will the Steelers deal with him and the Payments’ run sport, particularly minus Derrick Harmon? Whereas solely a rookie, he has earned his place within the beginning lineup.
They usually have handled accidents alongside the inside, on prime of that. Gone are Daniel Ekuale and Isaiahh Loudermilk. The subsequent man up for Harmon for the Steelers is fellow rookie Yahya Black, together with Esezi Otomewo. Black has displayed stoutness in opposition to the run prior to now, however can the Steelers ask him to carry up in opposition to the Payments’ run sport?
Notably, they’re practically a one-man present with James Cook dinner, although QB Josh Allen additionally will get his yardage. The opposite backs on the roster have simply 45 carries mixed—and nowhere close to the success. However the Steelers can’t rely on making the Payments one-dimensional, particularly with Allen a operating risk himself. Have they got sufficient beef within the trenches with out Derrick Harmon to carry it down?
After one other disappointing season and months of retooling, the Steelers are set to strive all of it once more in 2025. Although they limped into the playoffs, they as soon as once more embarrassed themselves therein.
Similar to final 12 months, the most important query hanging over the Steelers is the quarterback query. They settled in on Aaron Rodgers, however we nonetheless have so much to find out about him. The 2025 NFL Draft class might play an enormous function, however veteran additions like Jalen Ramsey will probably be paramount.
Now we’re within the common season. From Rodgers to George Pickens to Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ramsey, we’ve seen the Steelers make some massive adjustments. Now it’s about evaluating the roster in place and determining the way it all works out.
